In a small town like Antwerp, everyone pretty much knows you. Randy Getrost was born and raised in Antwerp and was part of the class of 1975. Several years ago he decided it was time to put some of his mental adventures on paper and his first book appeared in 2019 with the title of “The Lesson”. It’s an adventure of a retired law enforcement officer who goes back home to South Carolina, falls in love, and solves a mystery. “It’s where he grew up, but a place he never wanted to go back to.” The book is available at the Antwerp Library, branch of Paulding County Carnegie Library, which is open now.
Getrost, now living in Auburn, IN, has a strong tie to Antwerp, His grandmother was Goldie Getrost who was one of the early residents of the Manor House (now Antwerp Manor). She had the aviary in the front entrance built and donated to the Manor. His father was Jerry Getrost and mother was Ruth Fetters Getrost. Randy is engaged to Toni Leinard with a May 29 ceremony scheduled in Antwerp. He has three children – Denny Getrost, Laina Gross, and Eric Dunderman. He also has five grandchildren.
The second book in the series came out at the end of 2020, named “Live Again.” The third book is due out at the end of this year and titled “Love Like You’re Gonna Die.” The fourth and final book is a flashback story that develops the characters and foundation of the first in the saga.
Randy is a person with an interesting story, finding himself in life. He lost his father at the age of 13 years old and didn’t realize how much he struggled with that. He tried to cover up the pain with alcohol. That followed him for many years. Of course, he was a functional alcoholic and kept his job, most of the time. He worked at Hart’s Machine Shop for 36 years. He made pretty good money as a machinist, but he was always running from something that he wasn’t quite sure of. About six years ago Randy hit rock bottom. There was no place to go and alcohol had taken over. Previously there were always new lows to hit but this time no lower place was found – it was prison or die. His families had been destroyed through the alcohol abuse, and he didn’t even recognize it. It was always someone else causing him pain and hurt, or so he thought.
Randy found himself at the Fort Wayne Rescue Mission, completely defeated. He started the 12 step program on site and found, that by step five, he was using his alcohol to cover up his past by self-medicating. He had not dealt with painful memory of his father’s death adequately. Now, through the grace of Jesus Christ, he has a changed life, and a changed outlook. The drink is no longer needed or wanted. Restoring his relationships and asking for forgiveness from those he loves is a top priority now in his life. Some have accepted him again and others are taking some time, but he prays soon they will be resolved. In a small town where everybody knows your name, that could take time.
Randy’s thinking clearly now. He works at Lutheran Life Villages in Kendallville as the Food Service Director. The words for his new books are flowing and he loves his new found life in God. The first two of Randy’s books are now available on Amazon and he is working on bringing the books to local retailers as well as online.
